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Steve Hernandez, father of slain victim Rebecca Wingo enter the second floor of the Arapahoe County Courthouse, Friday, January 11, 2013 on their way to the courtroom. In court Hernandez shouted out "rot in hell, Holmes." (Tim Rasmussen, The Denver Post)

CENTENNIAL — The words of Aurora theater-shooting victim Rebecca Wingo's father punctured the sterility of an Arapahoe County courtroom Friday: "Rot in hell, Holmes!"

Steve Hernandez, Wingo's father, called out the message to James Holmes, the suspect in his daughter's slaying, at the conclusion of a court hearing during which Holmes' attorneys won a two-month delay in the case. The hearing had been scheduled to be an arraignment, meaning Holmes would have to enter a plea.

But Holmes' attorneys said they need more time — until March — to finish their investigation and decide the appropriate plea to enter. William Sylvester, the district-court judge overseeing the case, reluctantly agreed to the delay, saying it is better to postpone arraignment for a couple of months than risk creating a legal impropriety that could cause the case to be overturned on appeal.

Of the theater-shooting victims and their family members whom prosecutors could reach, the overwhelming majority opposed the delay.

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"I am empathetic with the position of the victims wanting to move this matter forward," Sylvester said. "However, I also need to make sure this matter is done correctly."

The arraignment is now set for March 12.

After the hearing, sheriff's deputies briefly detained Hernandez for the outburst, and Sylvester reconvened court to firmly but sympathetically reprimand him.

"I'm terribly sorry for your loss, and I can only imagine the emotions that are raging," Sylvester told Hernandez.

Family members and victims enter the second floor of the Arapahoe County Courthouse, Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 on their way to the courtroom. (Tim Rasmussen, The Denver Post)

Wingo, a single mother of two whom friends eulogized as a free spirit, is one of 12 people Holmes is charged with killing. Holmes also faces charges of attempted murder and possession of an explosive device in the July 20 attack.

On Thursday, Sylvester ruled there is enough evidence for Holmes to face trial on all 166 counts with which he is charged. After Friday's hearing, new Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler cautioned that the charges are still just allegations and that Holmes is innocent until proven guilty.

"I want to protect the interests of all involved in this case," Brauchler said.

John Ingold: 303-954-1068, jingold@denverpost.com or twitter.com/john_ingold

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